Yalla Parkour documentary by Areeb Zuaiter and produced by Basel Mawlawi got selected among 16 projects to be part of the Close Up Initiative 2023.

Close Up is a training, development and mentorship program for documentary filmmakers from South West Asia and North Africa. The initiative was founded as a non-profit organisation based in Belgium by film partners who collectively believe that working with emerging filmmakers from the mentioned regions is essential to creating and maintaining cultural awareness.

The story of Yalla Parkour

19-year-old Ahmad is determined to become an international Parkour champion, but his reality pulls him an inch away each day. Along with Mohammed, Jihad, and Abdallah, Ahmad is part of a team that practices. parkour, the sport of freedom, in Gaza, the city of restrictions. When. Mohammed survives a detrimental injury, Ahmad’s far-fetched dream of. building a Parkour Academy in Gaza becomes a necessity.

Director Areeb Zuaiter

Areeb Zuaiter is a multinational filmmaker whose work focuses on art, identity, and social issues. Areeb’s previous nominations include Annecy International Film Festival in France, Aichi Friendship Festival in Japan, Alexandria Festival, and Sony’s Outstanding Thesis Award in the U.S. Areeb’s debut short. won the Jury Prize at the European Film Festival in Lebanon and her latest short, Colors of Resistance gained awards from festivals around the world including Concepción Independent Film Awards, Colorado International Activism Film Festival and Spotlight Documentary Film Awards. Areeb participated in workshops such as EAVE, the DocCelerator Lab, the DFI, the RFC and INA. Areeb works as an adjunct professor in Washington, D.C.

Producer Basel Mawlawi

Basel Mawlawi is a producer and the founder of Kinana Films AB, which is based in Sweden. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Middlesex University in the UK and a Professional Diploma in Film Production from SAE Institute. Basel started his career as a production manager and line producer. His work is mainly focused on nonfiction storytelling and short narratives. He worked on several documentaries and more than ten shorts up to this point. He is passionate about collaborating creatively with filmmakers and writers to tell stories that matter and can create a difference. Basel has participated in renowned producer-specific labs, including DFI’s Producers Lab, Young Nordic Producers in Cannes, and EAVE 2021.

Kinana Films – Malmö Sweden